House car



May 7, 1935. F. DlTcHl-ILD 2,000,320

HOUSE CAR?,

Filed Sept. 9, 1935 3 Sheets-Sheet l May 7, 1935. F. DlTcHFlELD HOUSE CAR Filed sept. 9, 1955 F. DITCHFIELD May 7, 1935.

HOUSE CAR l 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed sept. 9, 1955 Patented Maly 7, 1935 i UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE' HOUSE CAR Application September 9, 1933, Serial No. 688,738

19 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in house car.-

As is well known, a great many wood sheathed box cars ofthe type commonly known as double sheathed steel underframe box cars are now in operation on railroads. Cars of this type comprise a metal underframe including channel side sills; wood posts and braces; outer wood sheathing; inner wood lining; wood side plates; sheet metal ends; and a roof, the inside width of said cars being approximately 8', 6, with the wood posts so disposed that their inner vertical faces are approximately in line with the outer surfaces of the webs of the inturned channel side sills.

As also well known to those skilled in the art, the side walls of such cars perform no substantial load-carrying function and the wood sheathing after a time permits leakage due to the shrinkage of the boards, driving of nails therethrough for the purpose of fastening the lading, and abuse, particularly at the rear of the door resulting from the use of :pinch bars in forcing doors into closed position. As a result, many of said box cars are now so badly deteriorated as to render them unt for further service in their present condition and others are rapidly approaching a like condition. The underframes of most of said cars, however, being of metal are still serviceable as are also the usual metal ends. Railroad oicials are, therefore, confronted with the problem of determining whether or not to try and keep in repair the present double sheathed cars by renewing the wood sheathing with theattendant expense and frequently recurring repair bills sure/to follow, or to provide an all metal car with steel sheathing possessing greater strength, rigidity and freedom from leakage, there being a constant demand for all metal cars on account of their greater durability, strength and lesser maintenance costs.

Furthermore, the American Railway Association is giving serious consideration to the adoption of a standard all steel box car in which the finside width between linings is approximately three inches greater than that of many of the i existing wood sheathed cars in order to better meet present day requirements. Obviously,it is much of the same as can safely and economically be reused rather than to build entirely new cars,

' and likewise, in converting them to steel sheathed much of the load-carrying function as possible.

(ci. 10s-409) Another obvious advantage to the owners of such cars, as well as other types of wood sheathed box cars having the old inside width of approximately 8', 6, is to carry out the conversion to an all steel car in such manner as to increase the 5 elfective inside width of the car to meet the prospective requirements of the American Railway Association of an inside width of about 8', 9",

. One object of this invention, therefore, is to provide a metal sheathed box car or other type 10 of house car that may readily be converted from a wood sheathed car and wherein all of the original metal underframe and metal ends may be retained and reused to thereby minimize the cost of conversion in obtaining an all metal car. l5

Another object of this invention is to provide a metal sheathed car of the character indicated in the preceding paragraph wherein the metal sides of the car function as true load-carrying girders to relieve the underframe between bol- 20 sters of the loadcarrying function to thereby insure a more rigid superstructure than obtains in wood sheathed cars and at the same time prolong the life of the car and reduce maintenance costs.

A more specic object of vthe invention is to provide 4a metal sheathed box or house car which, when converted from a wood sheathed car, may have the inside width thereof increased to the extent necessary 'to meet future requirements 30 and wherein staunch and economical means are provided for uniting the posts of the side walls with the chord functioning side plates and side sills of the car sides in such manner as to avoid weakness at the connections and, more particu- 35 larly, minimize transferrence of the strains eccentrically between the chords and struts of the girder side formation that might otherwise result from the outward oifsetting of the metal wall structure relative to the side sills.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an all steel or metal sheathed house car wherein the means of connection between the metal side wall sheathing and the side sill are such that the sheathing may be located at any desired distance within reasonable limits, outwardly o f the planes of the side sills, to thereby eliminate necessity of relocating the side sills in the case of a conversion from a wood sheathed car and in the case of new cars to minimize the lengths of the crossv members of the undertrame and consequently the amount of material required therefor in' providing a car of any given over-all inside width.

Other objects of the invention will more 'clear- 55 ly appear from the description and claims hereinafter following.

In the drawings forming a part of this application, Figure 1 is a side elevational view from one end to approximately the middle of the usual side door opening of a house car, showing the improvements incorporated therein, parts being broken out to better accommodate the gure on the sheet. As will be understood, the remaining half -of the side wall shown will be complemental to that illustrated and both sides of the car will be the same. Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view, upon an enlarged scale, corresponding to the section line 2 2 of Figure 1. Figure 3 is a similar vertical sectional view corresponding to the line 3 3 of Figure 1, parts being broken out in both said Figures 2 and 3 to better accommodate the views on the sheet. Figure 4 is an enlarged elevational View of the corner construction of the car. Figure 5 is a transverse, vertical sectional View corresponding to the section line 5 5 of Figure 4. Figure 6 is a horizontal, detailed sectional View corresponding to the section line 6 6 of Figure 4. Figures 7, 8 and 9 are horizontal detailed sectional views, corresponding to the section lines 1 1, 8 8 and 9 9 respectively of Figure 1. Figure l0 is a side elevational view illustrating a modified form of post attachment to the sill. Figure 11 is a vertical Vsectional view corresponding to the section line H II of Figure 10. And

' Figure l2 is a detailed verticall transverse sectional view illustrating the connection at the top of a side post in an arrangement reutilizing the usual inside carline of a standard double sheathed steel underframe box car.

In said drawings, and referring first to the form of the invention illustrated in Figures 1 to 9 inclusive, 20 indicates one of the side sills of the car underframe, said sill being of the usual well known channel cross section with its flanges inturned and secured at intervals to the ends of the cross members of the car, only one of which is indicated at 2l. In carrying out the -present invention, the side sills remain in the same position as in a car of the standard double sheath type, having an inside width of 8', 6". The side sills will be secured at their ends also to the end sills, one of which is indicated at 22 and to the usual corner push pole pocket castings 23. The usual metal end wall of the car is indicated at 24, which is retained without modication, except as hereinafter described in connection with an increase of the inside height of the car, said metal end wall having the usual vertically extending side anges 25 (see Figure 6) located as usual for the double sheathed cars.

In carrying out the present invention in connection with a converted double sheathed car,

lthe usual wood posts and braces are eliminated and in lieu thereof Z-bar door posts 26 and intermediate Z-bar posts 2T are employed and metalsheathing substituted for the outer wood sheathing. The metal side sheathing is preferably in the form of panels, each extending from side plate to side sill connecting member hereinaftcr described and between each pair of posts, the panel adjacent the door opening being indicalcd at 28 and the end panel being indicated at 29. Adjacentedges of the panels are overl:| ppcd and preferably riveted to the outer flanges 30 of *hc intermediate posts as by the vertical serios Of rivets 3|.

To cilect the conversion and to obtain an increased inside width of the car, the following arrangement is employed. Extending from each door post to the corresponding corner ofthe car, is employed an attaching member 32 of Z-cross section having its inner downturned flange 33 riveted to the web of the side sill as by the series of rivets 34, the Web 35 of said member 32 extending horizontally and preferably disposed slightly above the top of the side sill, and the outer flange 36 of said member extending upwardly and located outwardly from the plane of the side sill web, the desired distance corresponding to the predetermined inside width of the car. As will be evident, the plane of the sheathing 28-29, the lower edges of which are lapped over and riveted to the flange 36 by the series of rivets 3l, may be located any desired distance outwardly from the side sill by changing the width of the web section 35.

Each of the intermediate side posts is anchored to the attaching member 32 by meansof two angle clips 38 and 39, one on each side of the web of the Z post and having their vertical fianges riveted thereto, the horizontal flanges of the clips being riveted to the web section 35. The bottom ends of each of the intermediate posts are additionally secured not only to the Z member 32 but directly to the side sill by combined attaching, supporting and connecting castings each designated generally by the reference character A. Each of said castings A has vertically extending anges 40 directly riveted to the web of the side sill and suitably cut out to receive the depending ange 33 of the Z member 32; a central Vertical-and outwardly extending triangular web 4| suitably reinforced by ribbing 42; a horizontal top flange 43 bearing against and riveted to the web section 35 of the member 32; and an upstanding approximately triangular flange 44 thickened at its base where it connects with the supporting flange 43, said ange 44 being extended upwardly through an opening 45 in the web section 35 of the attaching member 32. Said upstanding flange 44 is connected by a plurality of rivets 4G to the inner vertical flange of the post, as shown. With this construction, vertical loads on the intermediate posts are transmitted directly through the attaching supporting castings A to the side sill and it will be noted that the line of connection is from the inside plane of the post to the casting A, that is, in a line only a short distance outwardly of the vertical plane of the web ofthe side sill. In this manner, eccentric application of the vertical loads to the side sills is reduced to a minimum; the transmission of the strains is direct; and the Z attaching members 32 are thereb-y relieved of the function of transmitting the loads between the posts and side sill and allowing of the posts being outwardly offset the requisite dist-ance without danger of developing weaknesses in the side wall girder structure.

It will further be observed that the top flange 43 of the casting A serves to close and seal any openings or gaps in the attaching member in the opening 45 through which the attaching tongue or ange 44 'is entered.

At each side of the door opening each Z-bar door post 26 is arranged with its web extending parallel to the side wall of the car and outwardly offset from the side sill, the side' post being extended down below the oor leveland connected at its bottom end to thekside sill by two heavy angle clips 41-41', one on each side of the inturned flange of the post and riveted thereto and to the sill as best indicated in Figures 2 and 9. Below the threshold, the out-turned flange 48 of the door post is cut off as will be clear from Figure 9. Between the door posts and in order to provide ample support for the threshold, a horizontally extending angle 49 is employed, the upper flange thereof being turned outwardly and supporting the ends of the floor boards 50 and the downturned ange being riveted to the web of the side sill, as indicated at 5|. Above the threshold, the usual wood post ller is employed, indicated at 52, for attachment of the wood lining 53. The vertical edge of the panel 28 is lapped over and riveted to the web of the door post 26 as indicated by the vertical series of rivets 54. Referring to Figures 2 and 3, a longitudinally extending floor supporting plate is employed, one section of which is riveted at intervals to the top ange of the side; sill, the other section of the plate 55 being upwardly oiset as indicated at 56 and to which the oor boards are connected, this arrangement being employed in order that somewhat thinner iloor boards may be employed than heretofore and without changing the distance of the oor above the track. In Figure 3, portions of the floor boards are broken out in order not to obstruct the showing of the attachment of the intermediate posts are each connectedv to the depending flange 59 of the side plate by an angle clip 6|, one ilange of the latter being riveted to the web of the post and the other flange thereof to said side plate flange 59. Additional attachment is also provided between each intermediate post and side plateY by a specially shaped gusset plate 62 (see Figs. 1 and 3). Each gusset plate has van upper wide section 62 riveted to the inner face of the upstanding side plate angc 58 as by the rivets 63, said section 62 being beveled 01T downwardly and also outwardly offset from cured thereto a Z sectioned door hood 66.

the plane of the flange 58, the plate then being lformed with a second section 64 extending laterally outwardly, overlapping and riveted to the web of the intermediate post as by the rivets 65. A similar attachment is employed for reach of the door posts except that in the latter inv stance the lower section 64 of the gusset plates are riveted to the flanges of the door post instead of the web on-account of the turned positions of the door posts. By means of the clip 6| and gusset plate 62, it will be seen that an exceedthe inner side thereof is a lintel angle 61 extending between door posts, it being understood that the upper end of the door post is suitably coped lto accommodate the side plate and angle iron 61.

In many double sheathed steel underframe box cars, inside metal carlines and a wood roof are employed. In the form of the invention shown in Figures 1 to 9, these are preferably not reused but instead sheet metal roofing 68 and outside metal carlines 69 are employed, the roof sheets and carlines being bent down and over the upstanding flange 58 of the side plate 51 and riveted to said flange as by the rivets 1U.

In Figure 3 is indicated in dotted lines, the location of the lining of the double sheathed car before conversion which, as heretofore indicated, provides for an inside width of 8, 6". With the `present improvements, the inside width of the car is shown increased to 8', 91A," and this without any shifting or relocation of any of the underframe members of the car. Attention is directed to the fact also that, in the construction shown, the inside height of the car hasbeen increased, which is accomplished primarily by locating the side plates 51 higher than formerly, it being obvious that the inside height can be increased any desired amountv within the clearance limits provided for operation of cars, the inside clearance of the arrangement illustrated being approximately four inches greater than that of the usual double sheathed car. In this connection, certain changes are involved in the end wall structure of the car, about to be described.

Referring now more particularly to Figures 1, 4, 5 and 6, the connection between the vertical end edge of the sheathing and the end wall of the car is obtained in the manner best illustrated in Figure 6, wherein the vertical marginal por- 'tion of the sheathing, as indicated at |29, is

inwardly offset from the main plane of the sheathing and lapped under the side flange 25 of the end wall. To rigidify this joint, a vertically extending formed Z plate 229 is employed, the latter having; one of its flanges connected to the panel in the main plane thereof by the vertical series of rivets 1| and its inner flange connected to the end wall and margin of the vsheathing by the vertical series of rivets 12.

To provide for the increased inside height of the `car, the original end wall 24 is cut off along the line indicated at 13 in Figure 5 just below where the slope of the end wall is nor mally present to conform to the slope of the roof and an extension plate 14 is lapped over and riveted to the upper edge of the remaining end -wall as by the horizontally extending series of rivets 15. Said extension plate isicut out as indicated at 16 `to clear the side plate and is- `formed 'at the top thereof With an inwardly extended flange 11 sloped to conform to the slope of the roof and having a side, down-turned extension 18 which is rivetedto the upstanding side plate flange. A corner casting B is also employed, the same being suitably formedtoconform tothe side plate and offset panel end wall joint shown in Figure 6, said casting being secured to the end wall extension plate by the l rivets 19, to the roof sheets and side plate by the rivets and to the sidewall panel bythe rivets 8|. The side plate is coped, as indicated atr 82, to allow of theinward offsetting of the side panel and allow of a tight weather seal joint being obtained when the corner casting B is in place.

Referring next to the construction illustrated in Figures 10 and 11, somewhat different supporting and attaching castings A are employed. Instead of having a single upstanding attaching flange parallel to the plane of the side wall as in the first described form, said casting A is provided with two spaced upstanding attaching flanges hid-|44 extending transversely of the car and adapted to straddle the web of the side post and to which they are riveted by the rivets |46, in this instance the rivets |46 being in double shear, as will be evident and providing an exceedingly strong connection between the post and side sill. The same advantages are obviously present as in the case of the castings A.

Referring next to Figure 12, the construction there illustrated is that employed where the car owners desire to reutilize the usual inside carlines of the double sheathed car. The end of one such carline is indicated at 83, the new metal side plate at |51, the wood roof at 84, old wood side plate at and the fascia board at 86. The intermediate posts |21 are connected to the depending fiange ofthe side plate in the same manner as heretofore described by the angle clips IBI. Due to the outward offsetting of the posts and side plate, a special connecting ller 8l is employed interposed between and riveted to the end of the carline and upstanding ange of the side plate as by the rivets 88 and 89, respectively. An additional angle clip 99 is preferably employed, riveted to the carline and extended over and riveted to the side plate upper ange, as shown. This arrangement likewise provides not only for the increased inside width of the car but may be utilized in effecting an increase in the inside height of the car, as will be apparent.

Although the preferred manner of carrying out the invention has herein been shown and described, the same is by way of illustrationonly and not by way of limitation, it being evident that various changes and modications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. Furthermore, while'the invention has been described with particular reference to a standard wood double sheathed steel underframe box car converted to an al1 steel car, nevertheless it will be understood by those skilled in the art that many of the features of the invention are applicable to new cars and to wood sheathed cars of other types than the said double sheathed type. All changes and modifications coming within the scope of the appended claims are` contemplated.

What is claimed is:

1. A converted house car including: a metal underframe including 'cross members and side sills, and sheet metal ends, the lengths of said cross members and the width of the sheet metal ends and location of the side sills with reference to the longitudinal center line of the car corresponding to those of a U. S. R. A. standard steel frame double sheathed box car having an inside width of 8', 6" met-al side plates; metal door and intermediate side posts disposed laterally outwardly of the outside plane of the side sills; sheet metalside wall sheathing attached to said intermediate posts on the outer side thereof, the upper edges of the sheathing being connected to the side plates and the lower edges being outwardly spaced from the side sills; means bridging the space between and connecting the lower edges of the sheathing and respectiveside sills; and separate means providing a support for and a direct connection from each intermediate post to the side sill, said posts and the location thereof being such as to provide an inside width of the car in excess of 8', 6".

2.A house car including: a metal side sill; a metal side plate; a sheet metal end; metal side posts; sheet metal side wall sheathing the lower edge of which terminates in a plane outwardly spaced from the sill; means for attaching the upper edge of the sheathing to said side plate; means for attaching the sheathing to said side posts;

means bridging the space between and connecting the lower edge of the sheathing to the side sill; and supporting and connecting members at the bottom of said posts, each member being directly secured both to a post and to the side sill.

3. A converted house car including: a metal underframe including cross members and side sills, and sheet metal ends, the lengths of said cross members and the 4width of the ends and the location of the side sills with reference to the longitudinal center line of the car corresponding to those of a standard steel underframe double wood sheathed box car having an inside width of substantially 8', 6; metallic side plates; metal door posts laterally outwardly offset from the side sills; means connecting the top and bottom ends of said door posts to the side plates and sills; intermediate metal side posts; means connecting the upper ends of said intermediate posts to the side plates; brackets at the lower end of each of said intermediate posts, means directly connecting said brackets to the side sill; connecting means between said brackets and the bottoms of the posts; sheet metal side wall sheathing disposed on the outer sides of said intermediate posts and united along the upper edges to the side plates; means extending between and uniting the lower edges of the sheathing and side sills; and lining disposed against the inner sides of the posts, said posts vand lining being so located thatl the inside width of the car is in excess of that of the original car from which converted.

4. A house car including: a metal side sill; a metal side plate; a sheet metal end; sheet metal side wall sheathing; metal side posts formed independently of the sheathing; means for attaching the upper edges of the sheathing to said side plate; means for attaching the sheathing to the outer sides of said posts; means for attaching the lower edge of the sheathing to the side sill including a metal member of substantially Z-cross section with its web extending horizontally; and means connecting the upper end of each post to the side plate comprising a plate riveted to the inner side of the side plate and to the post.

5. A house car comprising an underframe including a metal side sill; a metal side plate; carlines attached to the side plate; metal posts; sheet metal sheathing disposed in a vertical plane laterallyv outwardly of the plane of the side sill and on the outer sides of the posts; means for securing the sheathing to the side plate and posts; metallic means of angular cross section rigidly secured to and along the bottom edge of the sheathing and extending therefrom to the side sill and rigidly. connected to the latter; and load-transmitting means between the bottoms of said posts and the side sill, one at each post, and including flanges extending upwardly through said metallic means of angular cross section.

6. A house car having a side door opening and comprising: an underframe including a metal side sill; a metal side plate; metal door and intermediate side posts anchored at their upper ends to said side plate; sheet metal sheathing extending from each door post to the corresponding corner of the car and secured to said side plate and door and intermediate posts; metallic means extending from each door post to corresponding end of the car secured to and along the bottom edge of the corresponding sheathing and to the side sill, the intermediate posts terminating above said metallic means; and brackets directly secured to the side sill at the bottoms of said intermediate posts, each of said brackets having an upward extension directly connected to the corresponding post above said metallic means.

7. A house car including: a metal side sill; a metal intermediate side post laterally outwardly oiset from the sill and having its bottom end spaced from the sill; and means connecting the bottom end of said post and side sill, comprising a casting having an inner vertical flange riveted to the side sill and an upstanding attaching flange disposed laterally outwardly of the plane of the sill, said upstanding flange being directly secured to the lower portion of the post.

8. A house car including: a metal side sill; a plurality of metal intermediate side posts laterally outwardly offset from the side sill and with their bottom ends spaced therefrom; metallic sheathing on the outer sides of and secured to the posts; Z-cross sectioned longitudinally extending means secured tothe bottom edge of the sheathing and to the side sill; and a bracket beneath said Z-section means at each said post, each said bracket being directly secured. to the side sill and having an attaching flange extending upwardly through said Z-section means and secured to the corresponding post.

9. A house car including: a metal side sill; metal intermediate side posts laterally outwardly offset from the side sill; metallic sheathing disposed on the outer side of and securedv to said posts; Z-section metalmeans extending between and secured to the lower edge of the sheathing and the side sill; and a supporting bracket at the bottom of each of said posts; each said bracket being directly connected to the side'sill and having a supporting shelf l disposed beneath the post and upstanding flanges, vstraddling a portion of the lower end of the post and riveted thereto.

10. As an article of manufacture, a combined supporting and direct connecting bracket for a car side wall post and side sill, said bracket having an inner vertical flange adapted to be riveted to the car side sill, a laterally outwardlyextending web, a horizontal top supporting ange, and an integrally formed upstanding attaching flange for direct .attachment to the car side wall post, said ange being disposed in a plane parallel to the longitudinal plane of the c'ar side sill.

11, As an article of manufacture, a combined supporting and connecting bracket for acar side sill and intermediate side wall post, said bracket having vertically extending flanges for attachment to the car side sill, and upper horizontal ange section and direct post connecting y,flanges extending upwardly from the horizontal flange section, the connecting anges extending in planes ,at right angles -to the longitudinal plane of the car side sill. l

l2. A house car'including:A a side sill; metal intermediate side posts laterally outwardly offset from the plane of the side sill; means connecting the lower ends of said posts and side sill; a Z-bar side plate with ltsl web extending horizontally and its inner flange extending vertically up,

ward; and means connecting the upper ends of said posts to the side plate, each of said means comprising a plate riveted to the inner side of said upstanding flange of the side plate and to the side of the post.

13. A house car including: a metal side sill; a Z side plate; metal side posts laterally outwardly oifset from the plane of the side sill; sheet metal sheathing on the outer sides of and secured 'to the posts, the upper edges of the sheathing being united to the outer flange of the side plate; a Z-'section member extending longitudinally of the sill and having one flange secured to the latter and its other iiange to the lower edge of the sheathing; means connecting the upper ends of the posts to the side plate including connector plates riveted to the inner flange of the side plate and top cf the post; means connecting the lower ends of the posts with said Z-section member; and a connector casting at the lower end of each post, Asaid casting being securedto the side sill and having an upwardly extending attaching flange extending through said Z-section member and secured to the lower end of the post.

14. A converted house car including: a metal underframe including cross members and side sills and sheet metal ends, the lengths of said cross members and the width of Ythe ends and location of the side sills with reference to the longitudinal center line of the car corresponding to those of a standard steel underframe double wood sheathed box car having an approximate inside width of 8', 6"; metal door and intermediate side posts laterally outwardly offset from the side sill; a metal side plate; means for attaching the upper and lower ends of said posts to the side plate and side sill; metal sheathing disposed on the outer sides of the intermediate posts and secured to all of said posts, said sheathing being disposed laterally outwardly of the side flanges of the metal ends; and means for uniting the vertical end portions of the sheathing with the end wall side flanges, said means comprising at each corner, a laterally inwardly offset marginal portion of the sheathing lapped with the adjacent car end side flange and a vertically extending reinforcing plate conforming to the offsetting of the sheathingand riveted to the latter and to the side ange of the metal end.

15. A converted house car including: a metal underframe including cross members and side sills and sheet metal ends, the lengths of said cross members and width of the metal ends corresponding to those of a standard steel underframe double wood sheathed box car; metal door and intermediate side posts; metal side plates, the upper and lower ends of said posts being secured to the side plates and side sills; sheet metal side Wall sheathing on the outer sides of and secured to said intermediate posts; means connecting the upper and lower longitudinal edges x car may be elevated with respect to the original location of the side plates and roof of the car before conversion.

16. A converted house car including: a metal underframe including cross members and side sills and sheet metal ends, the lengths of said cross members and Width of the metal ends corresponding to those of a standard steel underframe double wood sheathed box car; metal door and intermediate side posts; metal side plates, the upper and lower ends of said posts being secured to the side plates and side sills; sheet metal side wall sheathing on the outer` sides f and secured to said intermediate posts; means connecting the upper and lower longitudinal edges of th'e sheathing to the side plates and side sills and the vertical end edges of the sheathing to the side anges of the metal ends, each of said metal ends having the upper portion of the original metal ends removed; end wall extension plates secured to the upper edges of the severed end walls, whereby the side plates and roof of the car may be elevated with respect to the original location of the side plates and roof of the car before conversion; and corner cap plates overlying and secured to the respective adjacent portions of the side plates, extension plates, end walls and sheathing.

17. AV converted house car comprising: a metal underframe including cross members and side sills, metal inside carlines and sheet metal ends, the lengths of said cross members and carlines and the width of the sheet metal ends and the location of the side sills corresponding to those of a U. S. R. A. standard steel underframe doublel Wood sheathed box car; metal side plates laterally outwardly offset from the ends of said carlines; fillers interposed between the ends of said carlines and the respective side plates and secured thereto; metal door and intermediate side posts laterally outwardly offset with respect to the side sills; means connecting the upper and lower ends of said posts to the side plates and side sills respectively; sheet metal sheathing on the outer sides of and secured to said intermediate posts; means connecting the upper edges of the sheathing t0 the side plates; means extending between and connecting the lower edges of the sheathing with the side sills, said sheathing being disposed in planes laterally outwardly oiset from the side iianges of the metal car ends; and means uniting the vertical end edges of the sheathing with said metal car end side anges.

18. A converted house car including: a metal underframe including the original cross members and side sills of a wood sheathed box car; metal door 4and, intermediate side posts; metal side plates, the upper and lower ends of said posts being secured to the side plates and side sills respectively, sheet metal side wall sheathing on the outer sides of and secured to said intermediate posts; sheet metal ends, the latter each including the original metal end 0f the car with the upper portion thereof removed and an end wall extension plate secured to the upper edge of the severed end wall, whereby the side plates and roof of the car may be elevated with respect to the original location of the side plates and roof of the car before conversion; and means connecting the upper and lower edges 0f the sheathing to the side plates and side sills and the vertical end edges of the sheathing to the side anges of the metal ends.

19. A converted house car including: a metal underframe including the original cross members, side sills and sheet metal ends of an originally wood sheathed box car; metal door and intermediate side posts laterally outwardly offset from the side sill, a metal side plate; means for attaching the upper and lower ends of said post-s to the side plate and side sill, respectively; metal sheathing disposed on the outer sides 0f and secured to the intermediate posts, said sheathing being disposed in a planelaterally outwardly of the side flanges of the original metal ends; and means for uniting the vertical end portions of the sheathing with the corresponding end wall side flanges, said means comprising at each corner a laterally inwardly offset marginal por- 'tion of the sheathing lapped with the adjacent car end side flange and a vertically extending reinforcing plate conforming to the offsetting of the sheathing and riveted to the latter and to the side ange of the met-al end.

. FRANK DITCHFIELD. 

